Thank you Music Boosters!

Each year at IMEA, the DGN Music Boosters sponsors a dinner for our All-State musicians as a way to say "thanks and congratulations" for a job well done. On behalf of all the DGN students and staff that attended IMEA, we extend gratitude to our Music Boosters for this experience. It is a blessing indeed to be able to sit back, enjoy a meal, and celebrate the great work of these student musicians.

IMEA All-State - Day 3

D99 continued to play a signficant role at the state level at the recently concluded IMEA State Music Convention. Highlights from Saturday alone included Meredith Richard's (DGS) first place vocal solo being performed during the Composition Awards Ceremony; Brayer Teague (DGN) leading the Composition Contest to a marvelous conclusion, moderating the final event with Mario Pelusi from Illinois Wesylan University; Callie Sorce (DGS) participating in the Future Music Educators' Seminar; Hannah Young (DGN) performing the harp solo in the All-State Honors Band and being featured on the huge video screen; Dr. Piekarz (DGN) performing with a group of male teachers singing to accompany the All-State Choir; 29 student musicians from DGS and DGN performing in the All-State and All-State Honors ensembles to conclude the 3-day convention. We are proud of the success of our students at the state level, and, proud of the volunteer efforts of our staff to perpetuate musical excellence not only in District 99, but also at the state level. 

Images from the All-State Concerts

IMEA All-State - Day 2

This morning started with an inspirational performance by the Madrigal Singers, led by Laura Coster and accompanied by Belford Hernandez. All-State student musicians Suzanne Segredo (DGS)oboe, and Hannah Young (DGN) harp, accompanied the performance. An immediate and authentic standing ovation from the attendees desmonstrated the depth of the appreciation of the excellence of the student musicians.

Bill Miller (DGN) and Chris Miller, provided an informative and insightful clinic about sound reinforcement solutions for an elementary school music program. The clinic session was extremely well attended, and provided participants with relevant solutions to improve the sound systems and reinforcement in their school music programs.

The evening concluded with the IMEA All-State Jazz Concert at 8 PM, with DGS student musician Mike Ruth playing lead alto in the All-State Jazz Band. The director of the band, Jim Culbertson, was Mike Ruth's mom's high school band director at Decatur-McArthur High School.

Once again, great work today by D99 students and staff perpetuating excellent music education at the state level in Illinois.

IMEA All-State - Day 1

Our students and staff represented DGN and District 99 amazingly well in the opening day of the 2011 IMEA State Convention. DGS Junior Zach Planta conducted his award winning piece on the Composition Showcase Concert. Fellow All-State Musicians Carly Charles (DGS), Billy Moroney (DGS), Lexi Osborn (DGS), Suzanne Segredo (DGS) and Stephen Shatzer (DGN) realized Zach's piece in front of an audience of over 1,500 students and teachers. District 99 faculty member Craig Roselieb mentored Zach through the composition process and through the application process to the IMEA competition. Staff members Ron Hornish, Craig Roselieb, Bill Miller, Glenn Williams and Frank Piekarz were part of a group of educators that played in a directors'  big band that performed the composition of a student from Grayslake North High School. Brayer Teague, serving as the Coordinator of the All-State Music Composition Contest moderated the Composition Showcase Concert, featuring world class musician Paul Wertico and live performances of student compositions from around Illinois. Way to go DGN and DGS music students and staff for having such a pervasive and positive impact on music and music education in the state of Illinois.

All-Staters Are Peoria Bound This Week!

Congratulations and best wishes to our DGN All-State Musicians as they prepare to travel to Peoria, IL this week for the IMEA All-State Conference.

ALL-STATE BAND

Brandon Broholm – Tuba (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Senior)

Jonathan Sheetz – Bass Clarinet (Junior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Kirsten Keller – Orchestral Flute (Senior)

Stephen Shatzer – Orchestral Bassoon (Junior)

ALL-STATE CHOIR

Abby Gardner - Alto (Senior)

Kaitlin Jeffries - Alto (Senior)

Josh Smith - Tenor (Senior)

All-State Orchestra

Marisa Bellie – Double Bass (Senior)

Lauren Kovanko – Viola (Junior)

Meghan Lyda – Cello (Junior)

Alana Osterling – Cello (Sophomore)

Hannah Young – Band Harp (Junior)

Thirty-one District 99 Musicians Achieve 2010 "All-State" Recognition

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2010-2011 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.  North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level, and we are equally pleased for our friends at South High who also had a tremendous number of students selected for All-State this year.”

In total, thirty-one student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 26-29, 2011.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 28, and the afternoon of January 29, 2011.

All-State Band

Brandon Broholm – Tuba (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Senior)

Jonathan Sheetz – Bass Clarinet (Junior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Kirsten Keller – Orchestral Flute (Senior)

Stephen Shatzer – Orchestral Bassoon (Junior)

All-State Choir

Abby Gardner – Alto (Senior)

Kaitlin Jeffries – Alto (Senior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Senior)

All-State Orchestra

Marisa Bellie – Double Bass (Senior)

Lauren Kovanko – Viola (Junior)

Meghan Lyda – Cello (Junior)

Alana Osterling – Cello (Sophomore)

Hannah Young – Band Harp (Junior)

IMEA District Band/Choir/Orchestra/Jazz Results (2010)

Today North High received notification that forty-six student musicians were selected to the Illinois Music Educators Association District Honors Ensembles. Congratulations to the following All-District musicians:

DGN  BAND  STUDENTS:
Shauna Bracken (11) Trumpet (Band)

Brandon Broholm (12) Tuba (Orch)

Erick Burkiewicz (12) Percussion (Orch)

Sebastian Calvino (9) Trombone (Jazz)

Erin Elgass (10) Alto Sax (Band)

Erin Elgass (10) Alto Sax (Jazz)

Kevin Gupana (12) Oboe (Orch)

John Janke (12) Guitar (Jazz)

Kirsten Keller (12) Flute (Orch)

Marie Kirkegaard (12) Clarinet (Orch)

Brett Latman (10) Trumpet (Jazz)

Spencer Schillerstrom (9) Tenor Sax (Jazz)

Zach Schneeweis (12) Trombone (Jazz)

Stephen Shatzer (11) Bassoon (Orch)

Jonathan Sheetz (11) Bass Clarinet (Band)

Isaac Stevenson (12) Drum Set (Jazz)

Isaac Stevenson (12) Percussion (Orch)

James Tandaric (12) Electric Bass (Jazz)

Kaitlyn Wayman-Dodd (11) Tenor Sax (Jazz)

DGN  CHOIR  STUDENTS:
Samantha Barry (11) Alto II

Maxim Becker (12) Bass II

Devin Collett (11) Soprano I  
Abby Gardner (12) Alto I   

Madelaine Isobal (10) Alto II

Kaitlin Jeffries (12) Alto II   

Jaclyn Kothanek (12) Soprano I

Kyle Kunkler (12) Bass I

Colin Ludlow (12) Bass II   

Elizabeth Meier (12) Soprano II

Patrick Murray (10) Tenor I
Kirsten Rush (12) Soprano I   

Nolan Schillerstrom (12) Bass II
Joshua Smith (12) Tenor II  
Caroline Sterr (12) Soprano I 

DGN  ORCHESTRA  STUDENTS:
Marisa Bellie (12) Double Bass
Lauren Kovanko (11) Viola

Katie Krainc (10) Violin
Meghan Lyda (11) Cello
Alana Osterling (10) Cello

Nicole Pearson (9) Viola
Erin Portman (11) Cello 

Katie Portman (9) Violin
Meghan Schmitt (11) Cello 

James Tandaric (12) Violin

Sarah Williams (9) Viola
Hannah Young (11) Harp

All State Jazz

Congratulations to senior Nick Goergen on a terrific performance at the 2010 Illinois All-State Music Conference.  Nick was selected as the drummer for the All-State Honors Jazz Ensemble.

All-State Musicians Set Sights on Peoria

North High School 'All-State Musicians' are heading to Peoria, IL to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Music Festival this week. Congratulations, and good luck!

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

Fourteen DGN Musicians Tapped for All-State Honors

Fourteen student musicians from Downers Grove North High School were selected by competitive audition to the 2009-2010 Illinois Music Educator’s Association All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Secondary General Music Composition Contest. Performance auditions were held last October at Hinsdale Central High School; musical compositions were evaluated by professional musicians and composers from across the Midwest.

“We are really thrilled for these students and their families,” said Brayer Teague, Fine Arts Department Chair at North High.  “Many people helped these students achieve this success, beginning with their very first elementary school music teachers and extending to their private-lessons teachers today.  North High is very proud to have these incredible musicians representing District 99 at the All-State level.”

In total, 28 student musicians from District 99 were selected for this prestigious performance honor.

The All-State Band, Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band will convene for a series of rehearsals in Peoria, IL, January 27-30, 2010.  Their concerts will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on the evening of January 29, and the afternoon of January 30, 2010.

All-State Band

Nick Goergen – Jazz Drums (Senior)

Marie Kirkegaard – Clarinet (Junior)

Jennifer Poad – Bass Clarinet (Senior)

Emma Sassano – Orchestral Percussion (Senior)

Isaac Stevenson – Orchestral Percussion (Junior)

Mike Walser – Alto Saxophone (Senior)

All-State Choir

Tom Cannan – Tenor (Senior)

Catie Krygeris – Alto (Senior)

Collin Ludlow – Bass (Junior)

Josh Smith – Tenor (Junior)

Caroline Sterr – Soprano (Junior)

All-State Orchestra

Colette Mondragon – Viola (Senior)

Rudy Rendek – Violin (Senior)

All-State Music Composition

Patrick Long – Commercial/Popular – 1^st Place & Keyboard Solo – 3^rd Place (Senior)

IMEA Jazz Festival 2009

Congratulations to all the students from IMEA District I who
participated in this year's District Honors Jazz Ensembles.

IMEA District Band/Choir/Orchestra/Jazz Results (2009)

This evening North High received notification that forty-two student musicians were selected to the Illinois Music Educators Association District Honors Ensembles.  Congratulations to the following All-District musicians:

BAND STUDENTS:
Shauna Bracken (10) Trumpet (Band)  
Brandon Broholm (11) Tuba (Band)
Emily Daugherty (12) Flute  (Band)
Joseph DePeder (12) Tenor Sax (Band)
Erin Elgass (9) Alto Sax (Band)
Nick Goergen (12) Drum Set (Jazz Band)
Kevin Gupana (11) Oboe (Orchestra)
Caroline Hlohowskyj (12) Trumpet (Band)
Caroline Hlohowskyj (12) Trumpet (Jazz Band)
Marie Kirkegaard (11) Bb Clarinet (Orchestra)
Jennifer Poad (12) Bass Clarinet (Band)
Rudy Rendek (12) String/Elec Bass (Jazz Band)
Emma Sassano (12) Percussion (Orchestra)
Stephen Shatzer (10) Bassoon (Orchestra)
Jonathan Sheetz (10) Contra-bass Clarinet (Band)
Bryn Sitkiewicz (12) Trombone (Jazz Band)
Andrew Stawarz (12) Tenor Sax (Band)
Isaac Stevenson (11) Percussion (Orchestra)
Mike Walser (12) Alto Sax (Band)
Mike Walser (12) Alto Sax (Jazz Band)
Josh Williams (12) Baritone Sax (Band)

CHOIR STUDENTS:
Tom Cannon (12) Tenor II   
Devin Collett (10) Soprano I   
Abby Gardner (11) Alto I   
Eileen Grogan (12) Alto I   
Ally Haley (11) Alto II   
Liz Havenga (11) Soprano II   
Kaitlin Jeffries (11) Soprano II   
Catie Krygeris (12) Alto I   
Colin Ludlow (11) Bass II   
Kirsten Rush (11) Soprano II   
Josh Smith (11) Tenor II   
Caroline Sterr (11) Soprano II   
Allison Williams (12) Alto II

ORCHESTRA STUDENTS:
Chloe Burnham (12) Violin
Lauren Kovanko (10) Viola
Meghan Lyda (10) Cello
Colette Mondragon (12) Viola
Erin Portman (11) Cello 
Rudy Rendek (12) Violin
Meghan Schmitt (11) Cello 
Hannah Young (10) Harp